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Preteens

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

Original poster

What to do with three 12 year old boys in london

31 replies

whataboutbob · 29/04/2019 19:34

My 12 year old would like to invite two schoolfriends round but doesn’t want to do the kind of things he’d have been quite happy doing a year or two ago. So Lego, the natural history museum or going to the pool aren’t going to cut it. I’m at a loss. We are in south London and don’t have a car so it’s public transport. Has anyone else been in this situation and found pre teen friendly activities? Any suggestions gratefully received.

OP posts:
ThisIsNotARealAvo · 29/04/2019 19:40

Sorry but mine either want to go up to the park (unsupervised and with a bit of cash) or play on the XBox.

slingthegin · 29/04/2019 19:46

Mine enjoyed the Nike store on Oxford St when we were staying nearby and doing the London thing. They've got a lab in there where you can design your own trainers. Might appeal?

potatopeelings · 29/04/2019 19:47

London Transport Museum in Covent Garden?

Quite often street entertainment in Covent Garden market itself too, jugglers & musicians etc. There is also a cheap cafe hidden away in one corner with the traditional market stalls. Also good places for ice creams and London souvenirs, baseball caps and the like.

Trafalgar Square is within walking distance of Covent Garden, and from there all the way up the Mall to Buckingham Palace, and St James's Park is alongside the Mall, with loads of unusual birds like herons; and squirrels that eat out of your hand. Fairly good chance of seeing the Household Cavalry too.

Original poster
whataboutbob · 29/04/2019 21:52

Thank you for those suggestions. I’d be quite happy to take them round some sights but I’m really not sure they’d be into it. DS has morphed into a teen in training and its hard to know how to pitch it.
Come to think of it, he and his mates might enjoy the slapstick of speakers corner. Then go for ice cream somewhere. I just don’t know the other kids’ parents v well, so hopefully they won’t think that sounds too odd.

OP posts:
Singleandproud · 29/04/2019 21:59

Bodyworks is educational, fascinating and a bit gross they may like visiting there. London Dungeons or the Tower may also interest them as they are pretty grissly but not sure what your budget is if this is a special occasion or just an afternoon out.

IWouldPreferNotTo · 29/04/2019 22:04

Skate park in crystal Palace (works with scooters). Mooching around croyden shopping centre eating fried chicken seems to be popular.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 29/04/2019 22:05

I did the Shoreditch Street Art Trail with DS when he was 12. It was a bit tricky so we didn't solve all the clues, but he enjoyed it. www.inthehiddencity.com/london/

englishdictionary · 29/04/2019 22:09

I agree with the first reply.

If he is inviting friends over surely he wants them to be over at the house?

Scardanelli · 29/04/2019 22:14

When you say he wants to invite friends round, what do you mean? Inviting friends round IME (mine are older) means sloping around the house wanting to be fed and playing on the XBox. If the pre-teen guests were visitors to London, I might do something more structured along with the 'hanging around the house' thing, depending on the guests' interests. Though if they're all local, I'd do nothing at all, and just let them all get on with it.

Scardanelli · 29/04/2019 22:14

When you say he wants to invite friends round, what do you mean? Inviting friends round IME (mine are older) means sloping around the house wanting to be fed and playing on the XBox. If the pre-teen guests were visitors to London, I might do something more structured along with the 'hanging around the house' thing, depending on the guests' interests. Though if they're all local, I'd do nothing at all, and just let them all get on with it.

Scardanelli · 29/04/2019 22:15

When you say he wants to invite friends round, what do you mean? Inviting friends round IME (mine are older) means sloping around the house wanting to be fed and playing on the XBox. If the pre-teen guests were visitors to London, I might do something more structured along with the 'hanging around the house' thing, depending on the guests' interests. Though if they're all local, I'd do nothing at all, and just let them all get on with it.

Scardanelli · 29/04/2019 22:15

When you say he wants to invite friends round, what do you mean? Inviting friends round IME (mine are older) means sloping around the house wanting to be fed and playing on the XBox. If the pre-teen guests were visitors to London, I might do something more structured along with the 'hanging around the house' thing, depending on the guests' interests. Though if they're all local, I'd do nothing at all, and just let them all get on with it.

1busybee · 29/04/2019 22:17

Do you have a trampoline park near you? They re quite popular. Climbing wall?

Scardanelli · 29/04/2019 22:23

Bloody internet!!! Sorry for multiples...

Original poster
whataboutbob · 30/04/2019 20:02

Thanks everyone. I guess I am a bit of a helicopter mother. We live in south London near northern line tube, the other boys are further out, proper suburbs but will be coming here. I tend to think I need to organise something, otherwise the lowest common denominator ie they go on their phones- DS has issues with wanting to be on it unless at school, eating or asleep. We don’t have an X box.
Speakers corner would have been good but the guests can only make Monday.
@BlackAmericanoNoSugar the art trail sounds fab, I’ll ark that for future reference.
I think I might just take them for a picnic in the park, rounders etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
whataboutbob · 30/04/2019 20:05

@1busybee we do have a tranmpolien park, thanks for suggesting I’ll run that one past the boy. @Scardanelli thanks for all the suggestions !
@Singleandproud- great suggestions, I’ll remember that for his birthday.@IWouldPreferNotTo Grin!

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QueenBlueberries · 30/04/2019 20:13

Depends how far it is for you but you could come to Stratford East London to spend a day in the Olympic park? Olympic swimming pool often has those super cool inflatables, you have to book ahead, then the park itself is great there are various play areas and a great water fountain they can run in (bring spare clothes), and Westfield has a cinema, numerous restaurants, 10 pin bowling, you can take a boat trip or rent a pedalo. Or go up the tower. arcelormittalorbit.com/ loads to do.

titchy · 30/04/2019 20:15

TAKE them to the park?! They're 12, surely they can go by themselves?

WokenUp · 30/04/2019 20:32

Escape rooms?

Rkay2 · 30/04/2019 20:33

My nieces and nephews are similar ages. They don’t tend to play computer games but when they all get together they like

  • Those trampoline place
  • Movie at home or cinema with snacks
  • Park visit with football followed by ice cream
  • Going for desserts seems to be a thing in one of those ice cream dessert places - there’s some in Tooting Bec
  • they might just want to relax at the house with snacks etc
  • take the tube to Waterloo and wander around there - always busy and good for street acts, the south bank centre etc
sleepwhenidie · 30/04/2019 20:37

DS likes to go into Covent Garden with his friends, they just go to Five Guys for lunch and then Game to the basement to play on PS4’s whatever. They also go to the cinema together, would IMAX be an option, or just somewhere showing new Avengers (be aware it’s 3hrs long!)

Original poster
whataboutbob · 30/04/2019 21:35

@QueenBlueberries that’s a super idea. Been o the Olympic park a few years ago, especially on a nice day he whole area is a good day out. Thank RKay those ideas also sound good.

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MyDcAreMarvel · 30/04/2019 21:38

At 12 they can take the train into central
London themselves and choose what to do.

Singleandproud · 01/05/2019 01:13

I would second a trip to the Olympic park actually, you could go shopping at Westfield if you wanted to be nearby but still give them some independence. Its huge with a lot to do if they still like playing in the park or just a ton of space to scoot along.

DD and I went to the olympic swimming pool in Feb half term and they had a massive inflatable obstacle course there but not sure if that is a regular occurance.

OldAndWornOut · 01/05/2019 01:19

Ripley's believe it or not went down well for pre teens when we went there.